APHC010353572026 IN THE HIGH COURT OF ANDHRA PRADESH AT AMARAVATI (Special Original Jurisdiction) [3521] MONDAY, THE 20th DAY OF JULY 2026 PRESENT THE HONOURABLE DR JUSTICE Y. LAKSHMANA RAO CRIMINAL PETITION NO: 5699/2026 Between: NAKUL SINGH, S/O. JOG SINGH, AGED 30 YEARS, C/O. RAJPUT,R/U. HUKURNPELA, SRI RAMADEVI BOOK STATIONERY, VISAKHAPATNAM. ...PETITIONER/ACCUSED AND THE STATE OF ANDHRA PRADESH, Rep by Public Prosecutor,High Court of Andhra Pradesh, Nelapadu.,Through the SHO, Kirlampudi P.S., Kakinada. ...RESPONDENT/COMPLAINANT Counsel for the Petitioner/accused: BOPPUDI ALEKHYA Counsel for the Respondent/complainant: PUBLIC PROSECUTOR 2 Dr.YLR,J Crl.P.No.5699 of 2026 Dated 20.07.2026 The Court made the following: ORDER: The Criminal Petition has been filed under Sections 480 and 483 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 (for brevity ‘the BNSS’), seeking to enlarge the Petitioner/Accused No.1 on bail in Crime No.210 of 2025 of Kirlampudi Police Station, Kakinada District, registered against the Petitioner/Accused No.1 herein for the offences punishable under Sections 8(c) read with 20(b)(ii)(C) of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985 (for brevity ‘the NDPS Act’). 2. Ms.Boppudi Alekhya, the learned counsel for the petitioner, submits that the petitioner is innocent of the alleged offence and he has been falsely implicated by the police. It is further submitted that the petitioner is the sole earning member of the family and, therefore, his incarceration would cause undue hardship to his dependents. He is a law-abiding citizen. The petitioner undertakes to strictly adhere to any conditions that may be imposed by this Court. In light of the foregoing submissions, the learned counsel prays that the present petition be allowed in the interest of justice. 3. Per contra, Ms.P.Akhila Naidu, the learned Assistant Public Prosecutor vehemently opposed the grant of bail to the petitioner and submitted that, though the charge sheet has already been filed, the accusations against the petitioner are well founded. Hence, she prayed that the Criminal Petition be dismissed. 3 Dr.YLR,J Crl.P.No.5699 of 2026 Dated 20.07.2026 4. Heard the learned counsel for the petitioner and the learned Assistant Public Prosecutor. Perused the record. 5. As seen from the record, the petitioner is arraigned as Accused No.1. He was found in conscious possession and transportation of 24.690 Kgs. of ganja, which is a commercial quantity. The charge sheet has been filed and the same has been taken on file as S.C. No.79 of 2026. 6. The learned Assistant Public Prosecutor submits that the charge sheet was filed beyond the statutory period of 180 days. The petitioner was arrested on 10.12.2025 and has been in judicial custody for the past 222 days. There are no adverse antecedents reported against the petitioner. The petitioner is a permanent resident of Visakhapatnam and he has got fixed abode. If the petitioner is enlarged on bail, he is likely to cooperate with the Trial Court for the expeditious disposal of the case. 7. Considering the facts and circumstances of the case, the nature and gravity of allegations levelled against the Petitioner/Accused No.1, this Court is inclined to enlarge the Petitioner/Accused No.1 on bail with some stringent conditions. 8. In the result, the Criminal Petition is allowed with the following stringent conditions: i. The Petitioner/Accused No.1 shall be enlarged on bail subject to his executing a bond for a sum of Rs.50,000/- (Rupees Fifty Thousand only) with two sureties for the like 4 Dr.YLR,J Crl.P.No.5699 of 2026 Dated 20.07.2026 sum each to the satisfaction of the learned Judicial First Class Magistrate, Prathipadu. ii. The Petitioner/Accused No.1 shall appear before the learned Trial Court on each and every adjournment without fail. iii. The Petitioner/Accused No.1 shall not leave the limits of the State of Andhra Pradesh without prior permission from the learned Trial Court concerned. iv. The Petitioner/Accused No.1 shall not commit or indulge in commission of any offence in future. v. The Petitioner/Accused No.1 shall not, directly or indirectly, make any inducement, threat or promise to any person acquainted with the facts of the case so as to dissuade him/her from disclosing such facts to the Court. _________________________ DR. Y. LAKSHMANA RAO, J Date: 20.07.2026 RSI Whether the order is : Speaking Yes/No / Reasoned Yes/No Reportable Yes/No / Non-Reportable Yes/No 5 Dr.YLR,J Crl.P.No.5699 of 2026 Dated 20.07.2026 THE HONOURABLE DR JUSTICE Y. LAKSHMANA RAO CRIMINAL PETITION NO: 5699 of 2026 Date: 20.07.2026 RSI